Steam condenser and water preheater



Oct. 17,1933. w. L. MCLAUGHLIN ET Al. 1,931,136

STEAM CONDENSER AND WATER PREHEATER H. L. WLAUGHLIN 2 I BY WEG BALLOIL n AT ORNEY.

Oct- 17, 1933- w. L. MCLAUGHLIN Er AL 1,931,136

STEAM CONDENSER AND WATER PREHEATER Filed July 1e, 1932 r 2 sheets-sheet 2 s ATTORNEY. g

Patented Oct. 17, 1933 STEAM coNDENsEn'- WATER t rmllllin'rlmV Y Wilson L. McLaughlin, Harrold L.l McLaughlin, v Virg Ballon, Des Moines, Iowa Application July 16, 1932. lserial Nm 622,984'

4 Claims. (Crest-,43)

This invention relatesmainly to a steam co n' densing device and is' particularly adapted for use in such systems of distilling water as taught in our' :so-pending application for United States Letters Patent on a process relating to the production of distilled water,'led June 16, 1932, and

given Serial'Number 617,638.

'The principal object of our invention is to V lcondense steam andpre-he'at water for 'a steam m A'generator by means of each other in av single operation. V

More specically the object of our invention is to provide `a1device that will [condense (steam and pre-heat undistilled water entering the device bybringing the steam in closeV proximity to the water whereby thesteam will be condensed the undistilled water heated. A' further objectof our invention is to provide a steam condenservand `water'pre-heater f i that is Yantler the control of nheoperator at all times.' Y,

A still' further object of our invention is to p'rovide a steam condenser that remove'sobnoxious' `,odors and undesirable g-ases `froril the steam condensed waterv therefrom. `A 'still further "object of'our invention is to provide ahighly efficient steam' condenser' and water pre-heater that 'is economical in manu- I`Vfactl'lreV and durable in use. 30'- These and other objects those skilled in the art.

Ourinvention consists in the construction, arrangement, and ycombination of the various parts l of the` device, whereby the Vobjects contemplated are` attained as hereinafter more fully set' forth, pointed out inz our claims. and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, .in which.:

Fig. l is'a side 'View of our complete device with sections cut away to' more fully illustrate its interior construction.

' Fig.'2 islan' enlarged view of `the discharge end' of one of the steam tubes. c

v1g.j 3 is" anenlarged top view of the discharge end portion of one of the steam tubes showing 4@an extension trough mounted therein.

Fig. 4`is a top plan view of a portion of the distilled iwater agita-ting rack. j

ig; ,5 is' an end view' in sections of the'con- V denser housing' showing the'distilled water agi- 50* tating' means therein with prime mover for actuating the same. Y

'Figi is a side view ofV the bracket forL slidably holding the reciprocating shaft of' the .water agitatin'g member.

n" Although steam"oorl'derlsersv have been used for will be apparent tow many yearsl and their Vwide 'employment isin-L creasing 'as time goes on, littleii any change' has" taken place in their general c'ostructioil'and method of oneI'iitlorh` Thi'f chief Cfoje'o'tioil` iSv tnelr'inabiliry to save and utilize for; useful' `pur; n poses l'lhvalllable'V heat lost bythe Stm taff distilled water during the condensing'and cooling We have overcome Such objections, as'will be aprecated by those skilledrin' the art."

Referring to the drawings, we have usedthe'. numeral v to designate the steam vcondenser undistilled l-wat'er` pre-heater housing. The

numeral 11 designates atub'e plate inside thejV housing-10 and' near Aits rear end.v 'Ihen'ume'ral 12` designates a second tube plate in the housing; 10 and positioned near the forward end of thatf housing. Theset'wo tube plate'sll' and l2fcr`ate the compartments 13, 14, and inside the heusing l0. The numeral 16 designates a horizontal dividing plate inside the 4compartment 13' for dividing the compartment 13' into an upper andv a lower chamber.v The numeral 17 designate'sfa similar horizontal dividing plate in the' compart-A ment 15 for dividing th'e compartmentfl into' an upper and a lower chamber. 'These plates'4 16 and 17 are of suitable material and of sub- `stantial thickness for insulating purposes and the plate 17 is positioned in a plane lowerjthan' the plane of the plate 16. The' 'numerall4 desig'lA nates a .steam pipe discharging into` the upper portion of` thefcompartment 17. The numeral' 19 designates a manually operated valve in' tlie pipe 18 for closing, opening, or restricting that member. IThe numeral 20 designates a pressure" gauge communicating with the 'inside of the pipe 18. The .numeral 21 designates a pluralityv o'ff spacedY apart steam tubes extending comp'lleielyl through thecompartment 14 and having their rear ends communicating with` the inside'` of the y upper chamber of the `compartln'er'lt 13 and their' forward endscommunicating withthe inside of thev upper chamber of the compartment 1`5, as

shown nFi'g. 1. The numeral 22 designates a c trough member of circular form inserted intjov 'the c forward` 'or discharge end of each of the pipes' 21'.v These troughs 22 have both ends open andex'- p tend further into the compartment l5 as' they' collectively' progress upwardly.' as shown in Fig. 1. c The'numeral 23 designates the' slot opening' the top of each' of the trough members. 'y V The numeral 211 designates a plurality of spaced apart liol'izontal' tubes extending completelyl through the compartment Handhaving their forward.v ends'fcommuiii'cating with the inside' bottom portionn or the upperchamber 'of the compartment 15 and their rear ends communicating with the inside upper portion of the lower l chamber in the compartment 13. The numeral designates a plurality of spaced apart horizontal tubes extending completely through the compartment 14 and having vtheir rear ends comy municating with the inside bottom portion of the lower chamber of the compartment 13 and their forward ends communicating with the in' side of the lower chamber of the compartment 15, as showninyFig. '1. nates a distilled Water outlet pipe communicating with the inside of the lower chamber ,of the comf The numeral 27 designates a partment 15. manually adjustable valve in the pipe 26 forV the controlling of the passage of liquid therethrough.'-

The numeral 28 designates a temperatiue gauge for registering the temperature ofA they liquid passing through the pipe 26. The numeral 29 Vdesignates a similar temperature gauge for registering the `temperature insidethe compartment l5 at a substantial heightjabo've th'eplatefl'fl Thel numeral "30 designates'a water.4 gauge having itsl lower end' communicating withfthe linside bottom ofthe 'compartment 15 'and'its upper Aend communicating with Vtheinsidetop of the "com-V partment 15.

Thenume'ral 31 designates a pipe having one;

endfc'ornmunicating with the inside `forward bottom of the compartment 14 and its other end coldundistilled water; The vnumeral 32 designates a 'manually'controlled valve in the pipe 31 for controlling the flow of liquid through the .pipe 31.` The numeral 33 Vdesignates a tempera-l 'ture "gauge for registering the temperature of the liquid passingA through the pipe 31. n

The numeral 34 designatesav water pipe having l one end'communicating with theinside rear end Atop of vthe compartment 14 and its other endy designed to lead to the point ofuse of the 'undis-V tilled water warmed and'heatedin ,theV condensingfof the steamiinside the-housing 1O.f In most instances this warmed undistilled water lwilllead to the steam generator and dueto Vits warm con- "dition willnot require a great deal ofadditional heatto reduc'eit to steam;v Although our device l is particularly `*designed for this' method of hook-up in the distilling or"A water,` theun'-l .distilled water so warmed maybe used ,tov equaljadvantagesfor lother purposesY where hot. water is desired.,v Y'The numeral." 35 desig-A nates a temperature gauge for registering the temperature of theY undistilledY water passing out fof the compartment 14 through' theV pipe 34; By this construction above describedfthe steam will first enter the upper chamber of the y compartmentl. From this chamber the steam q' walten By the use ofthe troughs 22 the Vdrops of V'15 will naturally aid'and assure thefcondenser"y ,the upper chamber of lthe compartmentl. the pipes 21 pass through the compartment 1,4

will' pass through the pipes 21 in Vorder `to enter As and are surrounded by water in the compartment 14"th'e steam will condense while' passing throughthe pipes and' will seek the' bottom of the compartment l'intheform of hotdistilled condensed water will fall thrcughspacein' order to'reach the collectedlwateij in thecompartment l5 and above the plate 17. This. dropping of the water through the space in thecompartment tion of any Ysteam that may have passed .through the pipes 2l into the compartment 15.` Further-V more, the dropping' of Y this distilled water. through k the space in thecompartment 15 and the splasli' The numeral 26 desig-V vthe lower disposed troughs. This hot distilled Water will next pass from the upper chamber of the compartment 15 by Way of the .tubes 24 to the upper inside of the lower chamber in the icompartment13'.v -As thetubes 24 pass through Vthe compartment 14 and are surrounded by the oncomingundistilledwwater this distilled water y upon reaching the lower chamber of the com-y partment 13 will be substantially cooled` by giving up much of its valuable heatto the undistilled water. This"di'stilled "waterv next 'passes part'mentvr 13 vto again pass' pforwardlyfthrough the pipes 25 to theinsidev of the Aloiwer chamber and arepsurrounded by the cold incomingun'dis- .tilled water,- the distilled water reaching the lower chamber of jthe' compartment 15 will ,be`

relatively cold, havinglost'a further substantial amountpf heat to the coldincoming undistilled water. From the lower kchamber offthe compartment15 thecold distilledwater passes through' the 'pipe 26v touseiu'l purposes.

noted that the outlet vpoint of the distilled water It will here be" v or" "the compartment 151 VV"As'the tubes. 25pas`s n through the lower' portion of thercompartment 14Y is in close proximity to the inlet pointjofthe' un#v distilledwater andthatthe Voutlet point ofv the".r

hot undistilledl water is in Yclose vproximity'to` the inlet point of the hot ysteam to rbe condensed., ByV this arrangement, the undistilled waterpasslng' from the device'will be ata very high tempera# ture, AWhile thefdistilled water passing Vfroinfthe device will'be at a very low temperatureV approxi?` mating that of the valuablel heat usually lostinfthe'condensing cold undistilled water entering the apparatus.`

In fact, the undistilled 'water leaving the 'de'` vice is of such high temperature that'very little vthe undistilled water entering" the device. This is highly desirable, as most of additional heat is necessary to reduce it tosteam.-

By the useof our device distilled water may be produced exceptionally economically.` v l IIn order that'ourdevice may be" under the con` trol 'of the operator at all timesand that it may function with a maximum amount of` eflicien'cy,.` Iwe have provided the Vnecessary control 1 valvesfv 19, 2'?, and 32. The level of the hot distilled water in the upper chamber of thecompartment 15 shouldV be maintained just below the 'lowest pipes 21. guiding baiiie members to the tr'avel'of thesteam and distilledwater, but prevent, dueto their: insulating properties, the re-heating of 'thedi'stilled water at. any point in its cooling travel through the'v device. n k j It has been found that distilled water often stillfcontains Vobnoxious odors and gases as Vwe have herebefore suggested..A To further release any such undesirable gases, we provide a mechanical distilled water agitating device which We' will now describe: nates aN slidably mounted shaftextendingcompletely -`through the compartment. 15 A'and Y'just The plates 16 and 17 notv only act as n Cil above the plate 17, as shown in Fig. 1. Packing nuts 37 prevent the leakage of' distilled water at points where this shaft pierces the housing 10, as shown in` Fig. 5. The numeral 38 designates horizontal cross bars spaced apart and secured to the shaft 36. The numeral 39 designates'a plurality of vertical pins secured to each of the cross bars 38. These pins 39 should be of such height as to extend downwardly almost to the surface of the plate 17 and upwardly to approximately the normal water level of the distilled water in the upper chamber of the compartment 15.

The numeral 40 designates a bracket secured to the side of the housing 10 and slidably supporting the square end portion 41 of the shaft 36 outside of the housing 10, as shown in Fig.v6. The bracket 40 and square end portion 41 prevent the rotation of the shaft 36,'but permits its reciprocation. The numeral 42 designates a prime mover having the driving wheel 43.' The numeral 44 designates a connecting arm having one end pivoted to the wheel 43 some distance from the center of the wheel 43 and its other end pivoted to thesquare end portion 41 of the shaft 36. By this construction, when the prime mover 42 is rotating the agitating rack comprising the shaft 36, cross bars 38, and pins 39, will be reciprocated through and in the hot distilled water above the plate 1'7. Released gases from the steam and condensed water will pass to the inside top of the compartment l5. We remove such gases from the inside top of the compartment 15 by a motorized vacuum pump 45, shown in conventional form in Fig. 1. In order to encourage the removal of these undesirable gases and to further purify the inside of the compartment 15, we have provided an air inlet pipe 46 communieating with the inside top of the compartment 15 and positioned some distance from the vacuum pump 45, as shown in Fig. 1. The free end of this pipe 46 has a funnel portion 47closed by a suitableair strainer 48.

Generally speaking, the hot steam and distilled water travel downwardly in an opposite direction to the travel of the cold undistilled water entering the apparatus and which travels upwardly. From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have provided a device that condenses the steam and cools the distilled water and at thev same time pre-heats the undistilled water by bringing the steam and distilled water in close proximity to the undistilled water in such manner that heat from the steam and distilled water are transferred to the undistilled water.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of our improved steam condenser and water pre-heater without departing from the `real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope. v

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a housing, a steam compartment in one end'of `said housing, a distilled water compartment in the other end of said housing, a central undistilled water compartment in said housing, a plurality of tubes extending through said central compartment and communicating with said steam and said distilled water compartments, a steam pipe discharging into said steam compartment, a distilled water outlet pipe operatively communicating with the inside of said distilled water compartment, an undistilled cold water inlet pipe communicating with the inside'of said central compartment, an undistilled water outlet pipe leading from said central compartment, and

trough members in each of the said tubes andY extending into the said distilled water compartment. Y

2. In a device of the class described, a housing, a steam compartment in one end of said housing, a distilled water compartment in the other end of said housing, acentral undistilled water.

compartment in said housing,` a plurality of tubes extending through said central compartment and communicating with sai-d steam and said distilled water compartments, a `steam pipe discharging into said steam compartment, a distilled water outlet pipe operatively communicating with the inside of said distilled water compartment, an undistilledcold water inlet pipe communicating with the inside of said central compartment, an undistilled water outlet pipe leading from said central compartment, an agitating rack; in the bottom portion of said distilled water compartment, and a means for actuating said rack.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing,

a compartment in the rear end of said housing, a compartment in the forward end of said housing, a central compartmentV in said housing, a plurality of spaced apart horizontal tubes arranged in a plurality of planes and extending through said central compartmentl and communicating with the inside of both of said end compartments, a steam vpipe discharging into the rear end compartment, a distilled water outlet pipe 'operatively communieatingY with the inside bottom vof the forward end compartment, a cold uid inlet pipe communicating with the inside of lsaid central compartment, a uid outlet pipe communicating with theinside-of said central compartment, and a trough member open at both ends and top mounted in each ofthe said tubes and extending into' the forward end compartment; said trough members 4extending further into said end compartment as they collectively progress upwardly.

4. In a device of the class described, a housing, a steam compartment in said housing,'a distilled water compartment in said'housing, a

cold undistilled water compartment in said houscompartment, a cold undistilled water outlet pipe leading from said cold undistilled water compartment, and a trough member extending from the end of each of said tubes that Aextend vinto the distilled water compartment; said trough mem-` bers extending further into said distilled water compartment as they collectively progress upwardly. l

' WILSON L.VMCLAUGHLIN.

HERROLDl L. MCLAUGHLIN. VIRG BALLOU. 

